Chinese army increases presence near Myanmar border

Beijing, Dec 1 (IANS) The Chinese army has increased patrols along its southern border with Myanmar, where the conflict between the government and ethnic minorities has worsened causing an influx of refugees, the Chinese Defence Ministry said.

Ministry spokesperson Yang Yujun said on Wednesday that the People’s Liberation Army has made preparations at the border to deal with possible emergencies and safeguard the country’s sovereignty and safety of Chinese people, Efe news agency reported.

According to reports, the Chinese army is also cooperating with the local government to properly resettle more than 3,000 persons who have fled the conflict in Myanmar and crossed into China.

Since November 20, the conflict between the Burmese army and the militia of three ethnic minorities in northern Myanmar has escalated, causing at least one missile to fall on Chinese soil.

In a separate incident, a stray bullet in Chinese territory injured a citizen.

Yang said on Wednesday that such incidents are cause for concern in China and he strongly urged the relevant parties to take effective measures to control military operations in the border region.

In March 2015, shelling from Myanmar during clashes between the army and the Kokkang minority caused the deaths of five peasants in the southern Chinese province of Yunnan, provoking Beijing to declare an emergency in the region and conduct military drills.